BOSTON – If they wish, the Knicks can hold Jeff Van Gundy hostage until Aug. 1, after which the franchise no longer owns his contractual rights. However, Van Gundy doesn’t seem ready to rush back into coaching after balking at a chance to consider taking over the head job in New Orleans.

The Hornets, who fired Paul Silas last Sunday, were granted permission by the Knicks to talk with Van Gundy. But according to Hornets GM Bob Bass, Van Gundy formally declined to get into serious discussions, saying he was happy working for TNT. However, it was believed the New Orleans could never match Van Gundy’s salary demands.

Van Gundy was at the FleetCenter Friday night as a last-minute fill-in for TNT’s Danny Ainge, who was hired to run the Celtics’ basketball operations and was taken off the broadcast. Even Celtics coach Jim O’Brien isn’t safe with Ainge now in charge, and one fan asked Van Gundy after the game if he’d come coach Boston.